Early voting popular, costly in Massachusetts

Monday

Oct 8, 2018 at 9:00 AMOct 11, 2018 at 7:57 PM

Want to vote early this year? Massachusetts allows it, although its convenience could vary based on where you live.

In an effort to boost voter turnout, early voting first started in 2016. Each municipality must make at least one location available for voters to cast early ballots during regular business hours in the two weeks prior to Election Day.

Early voting proved popular then, with more than 1 million voters -- or 22.9 percent of registered voters -- choosing to vote before the actual Election Day.

Voters this year will again have the opportunity, with early voting allowed between Oct. 22 and Nov. 2. It will not be allowed in the three days prior to the general election, scheduled for Nov. 6, to give election officials time to set up for Election Day.

Debra O’Malley, spokeswoman for Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin’s office, said the state isn’t making any projections for early voter turnout this year, as trends based on one year of data are difficult to discern.

The 2016 results are nonetheless noteworthy, she added.

“It was the first time and there was a lot of excitement,” O’Malley said. “People were eager to vote.”

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Contributing to its popularity, early voters don’t need to justify why they want to vote early. Unlike absentee ballots, which voters can use if away on Election Day, disabled or with a religious conflict, early voters can cast ballots ahead of Election Day, no questions asked.

“Early voting helps voters fit voting into busy work, childcare, and school schedules. Experience in other states suggests the increased accessibility of elections improves voter retention and moderately boosts turnout. And with a well-run voter education effort, it could expand the electorate as well,” according to a March report by Common Cause Massachusetts.

But the popularity of early voting in 2016 wasn’t consistent across the state. Nearly half of registered voters cast early ballots in some communities, while none turned out in others. And while election officials continue to search for answers to explain why, the length of polling hours seemed to have played a role, which is raising cost concerns among local and state officials.

In Eastham, 47.4 percent of the 4,267 registered voters cast early ballots in 2016, marking the highest percentage in the state. The Cape Cod town, where voter turnout is typically high anyway, made a point to open early and required city officials to work late during the week. It also opened on Saturday to accommodate those who couldn’t make it during the week.

“It was like every day was Election Day,” quipped Cindy Nicholson, assistant town clerk. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s about being convenient for voters.”

Similarly, more than a quarter of the 71,351 registered voters in Cambridge cast early ballots in 2016. The Cambridge Election Commission opened multiple voting locations, stayed open late and allowed weekend voting.

“We offered Saturday to give an opportunity to people who couldn’t physically make it during the week,” said Tanya L. Ford, Cambridge Election Commission executive director.

To contrast, 14.3 percent of the 59,613 registered voters in Quincy, and 7.3 percent of the 57,631 registered voters in New Bedford voted early in 2016.

Manny DeBrito Jr., New Bedford election commissioner, said he didn’t come on board until after the 2016 election. But he explained running extended hours isn’t cheap, raising real challenges for city officials.

It also forces local and state leaders to determine which level of government is responsible for what cost.

The question was somewhat answered earlier this year when State Auditor Suzanne Bump certified municipalities spent $1 million in unfunded, mandated costs to provide early voting in 2016.

“Our mandate determination found additional expenses, such as overtime for regular employees or the cost of additional election workers to support early voting to be an unfunded mandate, thus requiring reimbursement from the commonwealth,” Bump wrote in a letter to the state Legislature.

Mandated costs, paid through a supplemental budget allocation, varied by municipality, totaling $26,640 in Worcester compared to $92 in Provincetown.

The reimbursements, however, did not cover extended work hours and the days polls were open on the weekend, meaning local leaders must decide whether the additional investment is worth the convenience to voters.

In 2016, the state allocated $400,000 for early voting, which Galvin spent mostly toward supporting extended and weekend hours. The state hasn’t yet allocated similar funds this year, meaning municipalities could also be on the hook for additional costs.

“My staff are working numerous hours and even though the voter locations may close, we’re still here two to three hours later and back in here at seven in the morning to prepare,” Ford said.

In turn, the state could be facing increased costs, as Bump’s report signaled to municipal leaders what early voting-related costs the state will reimburse.

“Local officials know they can be reimbursed for certain costs,” O’Malley said.

For local election officials, it’s come down to finding a balance between convenience, complying with the law and budgeting.

“Making early voting more accessible to the voters while staying within our budget -- that’s the challenge,” DeBrito said.

Eli Sherman is an investigative and in-depth reporter at Wicked Local and GateHouse Media. Email him at esherman@wickedlocal.com, or follow him on Twitter @Eli_Sherman.

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REGISTER TO VOTE

Sign up online, by mail or in person. Any citizen who will turn 18 by Nov. 6 is eligible. The deadline is Oct. 17; city and town clerks will stay open until 8 p.m. on the last day. Early voting begins Oct. 22 and ends Nov. 2.